What Are the Preparations of the Syrian Orthodox Religious Education Center in Qamishli for the Feast of Feasts?

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12: 12). With the words of Saint Paul to the Romans, youth today walk in an era shadowed by crises and conflicts. Amidst all the challenges surrounding them, they have chosen to hold fast to their upright faith, continuing their Prayers with great hope and believing that Jesus Christ, the Captain of the ship, will not abandon them.

The youth have found in the Church a safe haven and a warm embrace that eases their daily pressures. They are the heartbeat and movement of the Church, both its present and future, as their constant activity within it makes them an inseparable part of it.

Today, they are preparing together for the Feast of Feasts and the Season of Seasons in a journey of Lent and Prayer, each according to their Ecclesiastical Traditions, towards the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year, their joy is even greater, especially since all the Churches are celebrating Easter on the same date. So, what are their preparations and what are their aspirations?

The Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) reached out to the brothers and sisters in Qamishli, this vibrant city that brings together different Christian Families, and asked them about their activities during this Blessed time.

Saint Assia the Wise Clinic Center in Aleppo, which belongs to the Armenian, Syriac, and Maronite Catholic Communities, was inaugurated, on Friday 11 April 2025, in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda, and His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji.

The center was renovated with the generous support and funding from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the ceremony was attended by the Council's representative Lamis Makhloul, as well as the management and members of the charity organizations of the concerned Communities, doctors, and staff at the center.

The ceremony was opened by His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda with a short Prayer, followed by a speech delivered by Dr. Rizkallah Malo, who reviewed the steps that led to this achievement. His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati congratulated all the doctors, workers, and donors, especially the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), before cutting a cake to celebrate the occasion.

The ceremony concluded with a speech delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji, and commemorative photos were taken for this significant event in the history of joint work between the Communities to serve the society.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs in a Lecture at Balamand: “It is essential to preserve heritage and sacred sites. The issue must move within the international conscience, regardless of religious and ethnic affiliations”

As part of the lecture series at the St. John of Damascus - Institute of Theology in Balamand, Lebanon, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs gave a lecture entitled " Witnesses and Martyrs in Anatolia," in the presence of Rt. Archimandrite Yaacoub Khalil, Dean of the Institute and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (A.T.M.E), on Wednesday, April 8, 2025, in the Patriarch Ignatius IV Hall at the Institute campus.

The lecture was attended by Directors and Professors from the Saint John of Damascus Theological Institute, along with a delegation of students, Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the "Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity" program at MECC, as well as the MECC Media who conducted many interviews with the attendees, and interested participants in the topic.

During the lecture, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs mentioned that he began his work on minorities in 1980 and conducted many studies on the massacres of the Syriacs and Armenians. He also researched the massacres of the Antiochian and Anatolian Greeks, which expanded his understanding through various readings. He adopted the term "Antiochian Levant" to describe where the Church was established and where the Apostle Paul's journeys occurred.

The Middle East Council of Churches and its Partners Contribute to Empowering Youth and Developing Their Skills

Believing in the importance of supporting and empowering youth by developing their leadership skills and contributing to building healthy communities, the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues to implement the "Youth Leadership Building" program in Lebanon. A new session of this program was organized in March at the ABTS Moore Center – Mansourieh, with the participation of a group of youth and leaders, accompanied by specialized speakers Reem El Khoury and Abd Zein El Din.

Noting that this program is held in partnership with Youth for Christ (YFC), Kerk in Actie (KIA), Ithraa Center in Lebanon, the Bible Society - Lebanon and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).

The day began with light breakfast snacks, offering a moment of fellowship where participants could reconnect and meet one another again. A series of outdoor icebreakers followed, setting a warm and welcoming tone for the day.

As part of supporting rural communities and enhancing food security, MECC team, through its Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, carried out an initiative to distribute winter vegetable seeds and agricultural tools to the residents of Al-Quniyya village in rural Dara’a. The aim was to support family stability and improve economic livelihoods.

A total of 895 families benefited from the initiative, including households where women are the sole breadwinners.

The distributed seeds included: fava beans, garlic, spinach, lettuce, radish, parsley, coriander, and onions. The agricultural tools provided included: shovel, grape hoe, mulch, hose, water tap, garden rake. In addition, the families received Balanced fertilizer, two water tanks and had modern irrigation systems installed to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production.

The beneficiaries also attended training sessions on proper farming techniques, how to deal with plant diseases, and practices that help increase crop yields. Moreover, an agricultural engineer visited the beneficiary families on a monthly basis to monitor the crops and provide necessary guidance to improve production quality.

Father Salim Daccache, Rector of Saint Joseph University in Beirut, inaugurated the Job Fair at the Faculty of Human Sciences campus, in the Damascus Road - Beirut.

The aim of this job fair is to serve as a bridge between students and employers, as well as to encourage individual initiatives and the establishment of private and startup companies.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was present at the job fair, introducing its work, mission, and the opportunities available within its scope.

As part of the Jubilee Year "Hope Does Not Disappoint," the Episcopal Committee for Media Outlets and the Catholic Media Center organized a pilgrimage for journalists to the Monastery of Saint Anthony Qozhaya in Northern Lebanon.

The trip began with a Prayer procession to the Monastery. After learning about the Monastery’s rich and ancient history, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, and presided over by Bishop Antoine Nabil Andari, the Head of the Episcopal Commission for Media Outlets, with the participation of Monsignor Abdo Abou Kassem, the Director of the Catholic Media Center.

This was followed by a press conference in which Andari spoke about the importance of the Jubilee Year, which carries noble and ethical meanings, emphasizing that every journalist has the responsibility to convey these values in any institution they belong to.

Monsignor Abou Kassem also outlined the upcoming activities for the year, aiming to strengthen hope and love within Christian media work.

After the recitation of the Media Creed, it was signed by all attendees.

As part of its efforts to enhance the capabilities and skills of its team, the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) participated in a training course for journalists and media professionals on International Humanitarian Law at the Fouad Shehab Command and Staff College in Rihaniye, Baabda.

The training was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Beirut Mission and the Directorate of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the Lebanese Army, and under the patronage of the Minister of Information Dr. Paul Morcos. It covered topics related to International Humanitarian Law and the groups protected by it during armed conflicts.

The training also highlighted the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, in addition to the scope and tasks of international criminal law, how to manage combat operations, and the protection of journalists during armed conflicts.

At the end of the training, certificates were distributed to the participants.